Compare/Head to head

Buddy Punch vs ClockShark

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Buddy Punch

$4.99/user/mo 14 day free trial

Time clock software. Starter is $4.99/user/mo billed annually plus a $19/mo base. 14-day trial. MCP limits on Advanced.

Where Buddy Punch fits

  • Small US teams that want a printed time-clock rate
  • Shops starting on Starter at $4.99 annual plus $19
  • Teams that need API on Pro at $6.99 annual
  • Buyers who will run a 14-day trial with no card

ClockShark

Sales-quoted 14 day free trial

Mobile GPS time tracking and scheduling for field teams. Standard and Pro are sales-quoted. 14-day trial. Three-year term.

Where ClockShark fits

  • Contractors tracking crews on jobsites
  • Field teams that need GPS and geofencing
  • Shops that will sync time into payroll software
  • Managers who want a 14-day trial with no card

At a glance

DetailBuddy PunchClockShark
Starting price$4.99/user/moSales-quoted
Free tier–No–No
Free trial14 day free trial14 day free trial
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes–No
Listed underTime & attendanceTime & attendance, Workforce management

Where they pull apart

Buddy Punch

Stands out: Published per-user prices plus a $19 base, with API on Pro and higher MCP limits on Advanced.

Watch out: Every plan adds a $19 monthly base on top of per-user fees. Monthly Starter is $5.99/user, not $4.99.

Not the right fit for

  • Solo users who hate a $19 base on one person
  • Enterprises that need a full HCM

ClockShark

Stands out: Time, GPS, geofencing, and drag-and-drop scheduling in one field app, with a 14-day Pro trial.

Watch out: There is no public per-user dollar amount. Every plan carries a three-year contract term.

Not the right fit for

  • Office-only teams that skip GPS
  • Buyers who refuse a three-year term

Pros and cons

Buddy Punch

  • Starter $4.99/user/mo plus $19
  • 14-day trial, no card
  • API on Pro, MCP limits on Advanced
  • $19 base on every time plan
  • Payroll SKU is a separate $49 base
  • Not a full HRIS

ClockShark

  • 14-day Pro trial, no card
  • GPS, geofencing, and scheduling
  • Pay only for active users
  • No public per-user dollars
  • Three-year contract on all plans
  • Built for field crews, not office SaaS

What each one costs

Buddy Punch

$4.99/user/mo

Starter is $4.99/user/mo billed annually plus a $19/mo base ($5.99/user monthly). Pro $6.99 annual / $7.99 monthly plus $19, includes API. Advanced $12.99 annual / $13.99 monthly plus $19, higher API and MCP limits. Payroll $8/user/mo + $49 base. 14-day trial, no card. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

ClockShark

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. Standard and Pro are named with no public per-user dollars. Three-year contract term on all plans. 14-day trial with Pro features, no card. Billed in USD. Active users only. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try Buddy Punch or ClockShark for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Buddy Punch offers a 14 day free trial. ClockShark offers a 14 day free trial.
Does Buddy Punch or ClockShark have an MCP server?
Buddy Punch ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Buddy Punch alternatives All ClockShark alternatives Every Time & attendance tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?